Archive for the ‘ASEAN General News’ Category
Hun Sen calls for protection of migrant workers in ASEAN
Everyday.com.kh,10 May 2012
PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) -Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Southeast Asia Thursday to protect migrant workers as labor markets are liberalized with the formation of the ASEAN Community in 2015. Speaking at a meeting of ASEAN labor ministers, he said that protecting and promoting the rights of migrant workers was crucial since the free flow of skilled labor was key to the future ASEAN Economic Community. “Broadening cooperation among ASEAN member states is needed to protect migrant workers,” the prime minister said. Hun Sen, who currently chairs the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, noted that ASEAN had already done some work in the area but had not yet reached agreement. As regional economic integration focuses on flows of skilled workers, the prime minister said the challenge was to protect less skilled and unskilled workers. “We should encourage the protection of migrant workers which is in line with the ASEAN statement on human rights to be adopted this year,” he said.
ASEAN launches website to assist consumers on products, redress, opportunities
JAKARTA, May 4 (Xinhua) — The ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) launched the ACCP Website (www.aseanconsumer.org) at its 5th meeting held in Bali, Indonesia, intending to help consumers on matters pertaining to recalled/banned products, consumer redress mechanism, training and education information, a statement released by the ASEAN Secretariat said here on Friday.
The development of the ACCP website for the ASEAN region was led by Malaysia, the outgoing chair of the ACCP and the chair of the Working Group on Cross Border Consumer Redress.
Indonesia, who chairs the Working Group on Rapid Alert System & Information Exchange, completed the first compilation of recalled/ banned products in ASEAN for the period of Nov. 1, 2011 — April 30, 2012 as posted on the ACCP website.
“Malaysia is very proud that the website has been completed. It facilitates consumers to access information on consumer protection in ASEAN through a single platform. It will not only benefit ASEAN consumers, but also visitors who visit ASEAN for official or personal matters,” said the outgoing Chairperson of the ACCP, Madame Mahani Tan Abdullah, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism at the launching.
Also highlighted at the meeting was the handover of ACCP chairmanship from Malaysia to the Philippines.
Malaysia has been the chair of the ACCP since the establishment of the ACCP in 2007. Additionally, ACCP held consultation sessions with the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II), GS1, OECD, and the Southeast Asian Consumer Council ( SEACC).
The series of sessions were aimed at developing better cooperation and coordination and to identify possible areas of collaboration in consumer protection for ASEAN.
The ACCP expressed its appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for hosting the Fifth ACCP Meeting, excellent arrangements, and hospitality provided.
Consumer protection improvement essential to support ASEAN single economy community: Indonesian official…impossible dream?
JAKARTA, May 2 (Xinhua) — Consumer protection is an essential measure that needs to be conducted in ASEAN countries regarding the implementation of ASEAN Single Economy Community by 2015, a statement released by the trade ministry said here on Wednesday.
“In single economy regime, markets in ASEAN territory will be more integrated. In bid to create high competitive region, we cannot neglect the consumers’ role,” Indonesian Trade Deputy Minister, Bayu Krisnamurthi, said in the statement.
The senior official’s comment was addressed to the conduction of ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP) ke-5 meeting held in Bali from Wednesday to Friday this week.
Bayu said that Indonesia intends to take part in the region’s intensive efforts to improve consumer protection measures that would eventually create smart, critical and independent consumers.
On the other hand, the measures were also expected to encourage business to be more responsible in producing their goods sold in the market, he said.
“If the measures are well implemented, there will be higher quality of goods and services available in the market,” Bayu said.
The ACCP was initially formed in 2007, divided in three working groups that comprised of Working Group on Rapid Alert System and Information Exchange (WG RAPEX) led by Indonesia, Working Group on Cross Border Consumer Redress (WG CBCR) led by Malaysia and Working Group Training and Education (WG T&E) led by Vietnam.
The latest working group has established cooperation with Australia, conducting several researches, is formed under ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP).
Two ASEAN member countries, Myanmar and Cambodia, are yet to have consumer protection law in their respective countries.
Thailand hosts 4th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Caucus
BANGKOK, April 30 (Xinhua) — Thai Parliament is hosting an international meeting of parliamentarians from 10 ASEAN member states, which mainly focus on the region’s natural disasters response and preparation for the building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus is ongoing at a hotel in Bangkok from April 30 to May 3.
The Senate Speaker, Gen Teeradej Meepien, said the meeting helps strengthen relationships among ASEAN members and expand cooperation with other regions as well.
According to Gen Teeradej, the main topics at this year’s meeting include the update on the implementation of AIPA, presentation on each country’s disaster management program and draft laws on disaster management.
The opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been appointed AIPA Chairman this year.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) formed in 1967 consists of 10 Southeast Asian nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam with an aim to promote political and economic cooperation and regional integration.
The establishment of AIPA was at the initiative of Indonesia in early 1970s to boost parliamentary cooperation among ASEAN parliaments.
កម្ពុជាចង់ឱ្យតំបន់អាស៊ានក្លាយជាតំបន់គ្មានសង្គ្រាមស៊ីវិល
Cambodia says Southeast Asian security no longer “zero-sum game”
SIEM REAP, Cambodia, April 26(Xinhua) — Cambodia’s defense chief said Thursday that the security of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is no longer a “zero-sum game” suggesting insecurity in one state may affect others in the region.
“We come to understand that your security is my security and my security is your security. Our security is so much connected and interdependent that we have come to realize that our security community and connectivity is our destiny, and that can be earned, ” Tea Banh, deputy prime minister and minister of Cambodia’s National Defense said at the opening of the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM) plus eight in northern province of Siem Reap.
“This is no longer a ‘zero-sum game’ environment, and the region as an entity has worked very well to reduce the security dilemma that used to be rampant in our region,” he said, adding that the ASEAN region has moved from the “competitive security” mindset towards the norm of “cooperative security”.
More than 100 senior military officials from the 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia and the United States gathered in Siem Reap since Monday exchanging views on a wide range of common issues of regional security threats and risks.
The meetings are separated into two phases involving ASEAN states only and the ASEAN plus eight.
As the first meeting concluded Wednesday, Gen. Neang Phat who chaired the meeting said, “We have agreed and understood that our region is not yet free of traditional and non-traditional security challenges, and hence, we reaffirmed our commitment to combat such security challenges by furthermore promoting and enhancing the defense capacity building and cooperation, mutual trust and confidence building among ASEAN member states.”
“What we have learnt from the meeting is, If ASEAN is in trouble or fails to be united into a harmonized political and security community, both national security and regional security will eventually face with difficulties or disasters, too,” he said.
On the part of peace seeking solution, Tea Banh said in order to ”solve any conflict, first of all we need to build trust and relationship based on which mutual understanding can be developed. Conflicts are generally caused by miscommunication and miscalculation. As long as we keep our communication channel open and lively then we can reduce and avoid conflicts.”
However, he said, “If the conflict cannot be avoided, then we need to use all available mechanisms including both bilateral and multilateral to find solution to the problem. In addition to this, preventive diplomacy and effective conflict resolution mechanism are necessary to maintain peace and stability in the region.”
He, meanwhile, said Cambodia is proud to share her experiences and expertise in conflict management, resolution, peacekeeping and peace building with regional friends.
“Cambodia has transformed itself from a recipient of peacekeeping forces to the sender of peacekeeping forces; from the victim of landmines to be the global leader in campaigning against landmines; and from inward looking defense policy to outward oriented defense diplomacy and cooperation especially under the ASEAN and ASEAN-Plus framework,” he added.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) was established in 2006 and it meets annually since then. The last 5th ADMM was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 19 May 2011.
The ADMM is the highest defense mechanism within ASEAN with an aim to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defense and security challenges as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.
The annual ADMM facilitates the ASEAN defense ministers to discuss and exchange views on current defense and security issues and challenges in the region.
The ADMM-Plus was established in 2010 and it meets triennially. The next ADMM-Plus will be held in Brunei in 2013.
The ADMM-Plus process is a tool to engage ASEAN Dialogue Partners in dialogue and cooperation on defense and security matters.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Myanmar changes bring new ASEAN-EU chapter
AFP,27 April 2012
Southeast Asian and European foreign ministers began meeting in Brunei on Friday to chart a “new chapter” in their relations now that democratic reforms are under way in former pariah Myanmar.
Human rights abuses and the harsh suppression of political dissent long made Myanmar a thorn in ties between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community, including the European Union.
But over the past year, Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government, led by President Thein Sein, an ex-general, has freed hundreds of political prisoners, eased media restrictions and welcomed the opposition back into politics.
Myanmar also held historic by-elections on April 1 in which democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament, floated its currency and signalled it was ready to accept foreign investments.
The EU this month rewarded what it said were “historic changes” in Myanmar by suspending for one year a wide range of trade, economic and individual sanctions, although it left intact an arms embargo.
“The remarkable transformation that is under way in Myanmar will further strengthen EU-ASEAN relations,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
In an opinion piece published in the Jakarta Post ahead of the one-day foreign ministers’ meeting in Brunei, she said the gathering would “jointly commend the significant progress made by Myanmar towards a democratic future”.
Ashton told fellow ministers on Friday she will visit Myanmar after Brunei, according to a Twitter message by ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.
“We will turn the page from restrictive measures to full engagement,” Surin quoted Ashton as saying.
The EU said in January it would open an office in the country’s main city Yangon to manage aid programmes.
It was all smiles and handshakes as the 27 EU foreign ministers and senior diplomats met with their counterparts from the 10-member ASEAN.
Apart from Ashton, the other European heavyweights at the meeting included British Foreign Minister William Hague and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
“I would say, yes, it is a new chapter because Myanmar is no longer a constant thorn like in the past,” a Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP.
“We can now turn a page in our relations.”
Analysts said it was still “early days” and Myanmar needs to do more for ties with the West to fully bloom.
“Yes, there has been real progress on the human rights front but this needs to be extended to the whole country and the new government needs more time to show how committed it is to these reforms,” said Justin Harper, market strategist at IG Markets Singapore.
“So while Myanmar is no longer a thorn in the side, the wounds haven’t yet healed.”
In Brunei, ministers will discuss ways to unleash the full potential of two-way trade between the two organisations’ members, which reached 167 billion euros ($221 billion) in 2011.
Plans for an ASEAN-EU free trade agreement (FTA) failed to take off because of differences over the scope and depth of such an accord, with the Myanmar issue also coming into play, according to diplomats.
The EU is now negotiating FTAs with individual ASEAN members, hoping that these can become “building blocks” for a region-to-region deal, diplomats say.
Harper said ASEAN — which covers Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — has become vital for the EU economically.
“Given the government debt crisis within the eurozone, the EU will need ASEAN more than ASEAN needs the EU,” he said.
“ASEAN member nations are generally in a good shape and are seeing domestic demand grow so (they) rely less heavily on exports. The same can’t be said for Europe.”
Thailand assures full support to Japan on Mekong Delta development: PM…Thai leader comforts Japan like War time
BANGKOK, April 21 (Xinhua) — Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Thailand agreed to support Japan in the development of the Mekong River delta to strengthen economies in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), Thai News Agency reported Saturday.
At a joint press conference with leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Japan after the 4th Mekong-Japan Summit, Yingluck said that the summit was considered an important mechanism to boost regional economic strength.
The 4th Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo was chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavo, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Myanmar’s President Thein Sein along with Yingluck.
Yingluck said that Thailand has always supported neighboring countries and the development in the GMS, and would like to propose joint Thai-Japanese development projects for the expansion of cooperation on East-West Economic Corridor and Southern Economic Corridor.
As for the Southern Economic Corridor, the Thai premier has invited Japan to support and participate in the development of the Dawei deep sea port in Myanmar as Thailand would allocate a budget for the construction of a highway to link Bangkok with the Thai- Myanmar border provinces, which would eventually connect the route between the Andaman Sea and South China Sea under the Southern Economic Corridor.
Yingluck added that Thailand has provided assistance to its neighboring countries and this year, it allocated 77 U.S. million dollars for infrastructure development in the region.
The 3rd Mekong-Japan Summit in Bali, Indonesia last November focused on natural disaster responses and water resources management.
Cambodia to host regional security meetings
PHNOM PENH, April 20 — Cambodia will host regional security meetings next week among the 10-member the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight dialogue partners.
The statement released Friday by Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said Cambodia, as chair of the 6th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), will organize the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) from April 24 to 25 and ADSOM-Plus Meeting on April 26 in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap.
“The meeting will exchange views on regional security issues, considers the draft concept paper on review of frequency of ADMM- Plus Meetings, discusses the draft joint declaration of the ADMM on Enhancing ASEAN Unity for a Harmonized and Secure Community, and other matters,” the statement said.
The meeting will be chaired by Gen. Neang Phat, Secretary of State of Ministry of National Defense.
Gen. Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Cambodia will give the opening remarks at the ADSOM- Plus meeting.
The ADMM was established in 2006 and it meets annually since then. The 5th ADMM was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 19 May 2011.
The ADMM is the highest defense mechanism within ASEAN with an aim to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defense and security challenges as well as enhancement of transparency and openness.
The ASEAN defense ministers discuss and exchange views on current defense and security issues and challenges faced in the region at the annual ADMM.
The ADMM-Plus, however, includes the 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.
The ADMM-Plus was established in 2010 and it meets triennially. The next ADMM-Plus will be held in Brunei in 2013.
The ADMM-Plus is a tool to engage ASEAN Dialogue Partners in dialogue and cooperation on defense and security matters.
ASEAN needs to boost cooperation beyond politics, economy: chief
JAKARTA, April 9 (Xinhua) — ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said on Monday that the region needs to increase cooperation beyond politics and economy, namely sports, drugs issue, environment, education, arts, culture, natural disasters and labor.
“During the 20th ASEAN Summit in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh on April 3-4, sports, drugs issue, environment, education, arts, culture and labor were discussed in order to make sure that we can make ASEAN for its people,” said Pitsuwan at a post-20th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings briefing at the ASEAN Secretariat on Monday.
Therefore, he urged officials to be transparent on things that happened in their countries so that help can come immediately.
“With the mechanism, we can address problems together,” said Pitsuwan.
He took examples of natural disaster and labor issues in several member states.
“Now, disaster is a major challenge of the world. In terms of migrant workers, please do something, move away from labor intensive,” said Pitsuwan.
Chairman’s Statement at the 20th ASEAN Summit on April 3-4 touched on issues of a drug-free ASEAN in 2015, improvement of people’s livelihood, trafficking in persons and people smuggling, the need to ensure effective operation in dealing with disasters, among others.
